Writing in the Mid-1800s

[tsalagidave]

I put this on another website but decided to include it here because we often get so involved in the clothes and guns that we forget about the other everyday items that were equally essential. For example, how many people have researched the everyday aspect of period correspondence and clerking skills. Even by the period of the Mexican-American war (1840's), America was known for its free shcool system and the result was an overall literacy rate of about 90% by the middle 1800s with some regions where illiteracy was virtually non-existent. There is an interesting discussion in book 2 of Bayard Taylor's "Eldorado" (1850) that also speaks of this. Albert Richardson also spoke of it in his writings (1869).

There are many original and reproduction school books out there on the market today that can be useful in teaching proper penmanship. Spencerian became popular in the various shcools in the 1850's but since my first person is usually 1850s, I prefer the older copperplate style. (The modern Palmer method would not be implemented until 1920, but examples of similar styles are regularly found on old letters of the period.).

Here is a copy of my lap desk and pocketbook that I use. I am interested in seeing what other people on the site are using in their impressions as well.

-Dave

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[tsalagidave]

Here is the desk closed

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[tsalagidave]

...and here is my pocketbook for 1850s travel.

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[brass]

T.D. – Excellent topic and one I hope to engage in a bit more as time allows. Your stuff looks great.

What you see here pictured are a few odds & sods of Wells, Fargo misc I was putting together in the early 2000s before my back-to-back army deployments. This is something I’ve been meaning to get back to but have not yet. However, what you see here is an original wells Fargo 2 cent franked envelope that I use(d) to make repos from that came out pretty nice. Also a few other things in the kit, one of my prized possessions is the ink eraser. Of interest is a W, F, & Co cancel stamp I had made for living history stuff to go along with my repro envelopes. There are a few other goodies in the box but you get the idea. Again, this all went dormant since my overseas deployments – need to get back on but never fired up again.

As far as writing goes: I’m terrible at it but have found that the Hill’s Manual of Social and Business Forms (1886 edition) has a lot of great info and penmanship training forms regarding business writing. Lots of great lessons to study over and learn from. More stuff I need to get back to. Time flies.



Brass

[tsalagidave]

I thought that I was the only one making repro-express franks. Its great to know that there is someone else out there doing it also. It isn't any fun when you are the only one doing something in this hobby.

Here is a good resource if you would like to work on your penmanship.

www.raggedsoldier.com/spencer.html

This is for Specerian. I do copperplate and Spencerian. This will really help a lot.

Nice setup by the way.

-Dave

[buckskin billy]

great topic yall and something i have never put a lot of thought into before now.
i was at a sons of confederate solider meeting a few years ago and the topic for the meeting was letters written by soliders. we had many original letters and was able to look them over and read them. one thing we all remarked on was how good of penmanship "they" had back then. especially when compared to my chicken scratch i call writing.
as this is something i have not delved into before would either one of yall mine explaining what is what is the boxes and what are originals and repros. and where one could find repros of such things at. i look forward to learning more on this

[tsalagidave]

Billy,

My inkwells, book and one of the pens in this case are originals. The rest are faithfully reproduced from original items that I have either inspected or own in my collection. My items include that which is necessary for correspondence.
Pens/pencils
Inkwells/Ink & Powdered ink package
scissors/scraper
Envelopes, print & plain
Stationery, print & plain
Postage stamps/Express stamps
Glue
sealing wax,crucible, burner
red tape
Writing guide(books)

If you want to practice up on your period writing, it is interesting and fun once your hand begins to change.

-Dave

[brass]

TD - There doesn't seem to be a really good source to get repro franked envelopes so I decided to give it a whirl on my own. The only problem with my repros (aside from not being as good as the originals of course) is that I can't get a relief to what should be an embossed stamp. If I could figure out a way to add a proper relief I'd be cooking with gas. As for adding something I'm fond of to the list of goodies I'd have to add an ink eraser - hard to find and most antique dealers seem to think they're scalples or some such - and a nice ink blotter with the right papers or at least a nice pounce shaker. Gotta love it.

BB - I'm with you on the chicken scratch. Certainly no amount of practice has helped me too much. Dave has got all of us beat in the penmanship department without a doubt. As for boxes or portable writing desks - back in the day just as now there were cheapos and much better quality stuff. Take a look at what Dave has - that is quality. What I have is a cheapo though it is period as well.

Brass

[tsalagidave]

Thanks for the kind words brass. In order to make a relief on the stamp as close as you can go is to use the bust of George Washington's head from a regular quarter as a model and then fit your picture design to match it. When you have your embossing made, be sure to include your oval border. If you try to include "3-Cents". Someone may think that you are trying to counterfeit rather than make a serviceable prop for a living history display so be careful.

The Inked Franks are easier to do. I have done the Pacific Express and The Pony Express and they both look pretty good.

-Dave